Apparatus for transfer of flowable material from a hopper

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for transferring or feeding flowable material to a desired location from a container such as a hopper. A pair of shelf members are disposed below the hopper. The shelves are substantially horizontal and arranged one above the other. A pair of spaced-apart chains or other continuous flexible members have crossmembers therebetween. The crossmembers move over the upper shelf in a direction away from the desired location, and then move over the lower shelf in a direction toward the desired location. The upper shelf is shorter in length than the lower shelf so that material moved upon the upper shelf falls therefrom to the lower shelf and is moved by the crossmembers on the lower shelf to the desired location.

United States Patent 172 inventor Jesse C. Moore Fort Recovery, Ohio [21App]. No. 882,032 221 Filed Dec. 4, 1969 Division olSer. No. 519,179,Jan. 6, 1966, Pat. No. 3,483,600. [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971 [73]Assignee Norman H. Kuhlman St. Marys, Ohio 11 part interest 54]APPARATUS FOR TRANSFER OF FLOWABLE MATERIAL FROM A HOPPER 1 Claim, 7Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 198/57, l98/l 59, 25/36 [51] Int. Cl. B653 47/18 [50]Field of Search 198/43-44, 46, 54, 56, 57, 65-69, I74, 168, 169. 159;25/30, 40, I00, 36

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4i L439 9/l889 Hart l98/672,156.878 5/1939 De LosSindcn l98/l68 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,237 4/1955ltaly 198/44 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney-William R.Jacox ABSTRACT: Apparatus for transferring or feeding flowablc materialto a desired location from a container such as a hopper. A pair of shelfmembers are disposed below the hopper. The shelves are substantiallyhorizontal and arranged one above the other. A pair of spaced-apartchains or other continuous flexible members have crossmemberstherebetween. The crossmembers move over the upper shelf in a directionaway from the desired location, and then move over the lower shelf in adirection toward the desired location. The upper shelf is shorter inlength than the lower shelf so that material moved upon the upper shelffalls therefrom to the lower shelf and is moved by the crossmembers onthe lower shelf to the desired location.

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' 'IZIIIII'IA I L Ilium INVENTOR. JESSE c. MOORE ATTORNEY APPARATUSlFOlR TRANSFER OF FLOWABLE MATERIAL FROM A HOPPER RELATED APPLICATIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In numerous types of industries it isnecessary or desirable to move material from a hopper or the like to adesired location. The apparatus of this invention is capable of movingmaterial from a hopper to a desired location, to fill a container or thelike at the location, and to automatically remove any excess ofmaterial.

The apparatus of this invention'is particularly adapted for feedingmolding material such as concrete or the like to a device for moldingcylindrical members, such as tile or the like. However, the invention isnotso limited due to the fact that the apparatus of this invention maybe employed for feeding various types of materials for any one ofvarious uses or purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sectional view, with partsbroken away, showing material transfermeans of this invention inassociation with means for forming a cylindrical member.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing elements ofthe apparatus in another position of operation.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but showingelements of the apparatus in another position of operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, similar to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 but showingelements of the apparatus in another position of operation.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGS. I,2,3, and 4 showing elements thereof in another position of operation.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, similar to FIGS. I, 2, 3, and 4, but

showing elements of the apparatus in another position of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus of this inventionis shown in use with means for producing cylindrical hollow bodies, suchas tile or the like. However, the apparatus of this invention may beused with or for other types of mechanism or devices or apparatus.

A base 32 having a recess 36 is shown in supporting relationship to abottom wall 34. Movably supported upon the bottom wall 34 are aplurality of mold cavity members 38. These are in engagement with thebottom wall 34 and coaxial with the recess 36, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2,and 3. Movably disposed above the mold cavity members 38 are a pluralityof filler tubes 44, there being one filler tube 44 for each of the moldcavity members 38. Each filler tube 44 has a bottom wall 46 which isprovided with 'a hole 48 therethrough, as shown in FIG. 1. Each fillertube 44 has a longitudinally extending opening 50 in the side thereof.Partially disposed within the opening 50 is a feeder floor 52. A portionof the floor 52 may rest upon the filler tube 44 and be movabletherewith, as the floor 52 pivots about the axis ofa sprocket wheel 60.

An endless conveyor chain 56 having a plurality of transversespaced-apart crossmembers 58 is disposed above the feeder floor 52. Thedrive sprocket wheel 60 engages the conveyor chain 56 and is rotated byany suitable drive motor 62 which is operablyjoined thereto through ashaft 63 or the like. An idler sprocket wheel 64 is also shown inengagement with the conveyor chain 56. The upper part of the chain 56slidably moves over a shelf 66 which is disposed a slight distance belowa hopper 70.

2, a, 4, and 7.

Extending into each of the tiller tubes 44 is a shaft 72 having severalconvolutions of a screw blade 74 carried thereby. At the lower end ofeach shaft 72 is a plunger or packer 76 provided with ears 78 at' theupper portion thereof. The shafts 72 are rotatably carried by anysuitable means, not shown.

OPERATION Suitable material 250 for producing hollow cylindrical conduitmembers is supplied to the hopper 70, as shown in FIGS. The material 250may comprise concrete or the like or any other suitable flowablematerial. FIG. I shows the position of the members of the apparatus atthe beginning of a cycle of producing a conduit member. Each plunger orpacker 76 is positioned within the recess 36 as the packer 76 is in itslowermost position. The motor 62 is operating and rotates the drivesprocket wheel 60. Thus, the endless conveyor chain 56 and thecrossmembers 58 are moving in the direction illustrated by arrows 252 inFIG. 1. Thus, the crossmembers 58 move the material 250 from the bottomof the hopper 70 and along the shelf 66. The material 250 falls from theshelf 66 and between the crossmembers 58. The material 250 falls uponthe feeder floor 52 and is moved by the crossmembers 58 of the chains 56toward the filler tubes 44. The material250 falls from the feeder floor52 into the filler tubes 44 While the material 250 is being introducedinto the mold cavity members 38a, the shafis 72 are being rotated. Theshafts 72 are rotated in the direction illustrated by an arrow 254 inFIG. 1. The rotating screw blade 74 carried by each shaft 72 urges thematerial 250 from its respective filler tube 44 into the mold cavitymember 38 which is directly therebelow. Thus, the screw blades 74 forcethe material 250 into the mold cavity members 38. After the material 250begins to fall into the mold cavity members 38. the shafts 72 are liftedslowly, moving the packers 76 from the bottom of the mold cavity members38a to the top thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Therefore, thematerial 250 within the mold cavity members 38 is forced toward thesides of the mold cavity members 38 by the plungers 76 and by the ears78-thereof. Thus, the material 250 within each mold cavity member 38a isformed into a hollow cylindrical conduit member 260 as shown in FIG. 2.

The motor 62 is operated during a period of time which is necessary totransfer sufficient material 250 from the hopper 70 to the filler tubes44 for the formation of a cylindrical member 260 within each mold cavitymember 38. However, in order to assure that a sufficient amount ofmaterial 250 is available to form a cylindrical member 260 within eachmold cavity member 38, an excess of the material 250 is fed into thefiller tubes 44, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, after a tubular member260 is formed within each mold cavity member 38 a quantity of material250 remains within each of the filler tubes 44. This excess material 250appears in the form of a tubular body of material 250, encompassing thepacker 76 within each filler tube 44, as shown in FIG. 2. The amount ofthe excess material 250 remaining in the filler tubes 44 after formationof tubular members 260 within the mold cavity members 38 varies. Theamount of excess material 250 remaining in the tiller tubes 44 varieswith certain conditions in the material 250 and with other conditions ofoperation of the apparatus. When the material 250 within the fillertubes 44 reaches a certain height, movement of the crossmembers 58 in adirection toward the hopper 70 carries therewith a portion of the excessmaterial 250, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Thus, the material feed apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7always transfers sufficient material 250 to the filler tubes 44 to formcylinder members 260 within the mold cavity members 38. At the same timeif the material 250 in the feeder tubes 44 is in excess of a givenamount, the feed material apparatus automatically removes a portion ofthe excess material. Thus, there is no accumulation of excess material250 within the filler tubes 44 as one cycle of molding operation followsa previous cycle of molding operation.

lclaim: L Apparatus for transfer of flowable mold material comprising:

a hopper for containing fiowable mold material, the hopper having anopening therein at the bottom portion thereof for movement of flowablematerial therefrom,

limited capacity flowable mold material receiver means spaced from thehopper,

an imperforate first shelf disposed below the opening in the hopper inclosely spaced relationship thereto, the imperforate first shelf beinglarger than the opening in the hopper and substantially closing theopening in the hopper, the imperforate first shelf having a portionadjacent the receiver means,

an imperforate second shelf, the imperforate second shelf being largerthan the first shelf and disposed below all of the first shelf and inspaced relationship with respect thereto, the imperforate second shelfhaving a portion within the receiver means,

an endless movable conveyor member, the conveyor member having aplurality of openings therethrough, the conveyor member having an upperportion above the imperforate first shelf and in juxtaposition withrespect thereto, the conveyor member having a lower portion above theimperforate second shelf and in juxtaposition with respect thereto,

means positioning the conveyor member adjacent the receiver means sothat a portion of the conveyor member is positioned within the receivermeans to effect return of excess mold material toward said hopper,

the conveyor member having the upper portion thereof moving in adirection away from the mold material receiver means so that material ismoved from the hopper by the upper portion of the conveyor member andalong the imperforate first shelf, the mold material being moved fromthe first shelf by the upper portion of the conveyor member and fallingthrough the openings in the upper portion of the conveyor member to theimperforate second shelf, the lower portion of the conveyor membermoving toward the mold material receiver means so that the mold materialwhich falls upon the second shelf from the first shelf is moved by thelower portion of the conveyor member upon the second shelf to theflowable mold material receiver means, with continued movement of theconveyor member there being a quantity of mold material moved to thereceiver means in excess of that required for filling the receivermeans, there thus being assurance of a sufficient quantity of moldmaterial to fill the mold material receiver means,

the portion of the conveyor member within the mold material receivermeans moving upwardly from the second shelf and then along the firstshelfand carrying excess mold material in a direction from the moldmaterial receiver means toward the hopper when the mold materialreceiver means is filled.

i i II t t

1. Apparatus for transfer of flowable mold material comprising: a hopperfor containing flowable mold material, the hopper having an openingtherein at the bottom portion thereof for movement of flowable materialtherefrom, limited capacity flowable mold material receiver means spacedfrom the hopper, an imperforate first shelf disposed below the openingin the hopper in closely spaced relationship thereto, the imperforatefirst shelf being larger than the opening in the hopper andsubstantially closing the opening in the hopper, the imperforate firstshelf having a portion adjacent the receiver means, an imperforatesecond shelf, the imperforate second shelf being larger than the firstshelf and disposed below all of the first shelf and in spacedrelationship with respect thereto, the imperforate second shelf having aportion within the receiver means, an endless movable conveyor member,the conveyor member having a plurality of openings therethrough, theconveyor member having an upper portion above the imperforate firstshelf and in juxtaposition with respect thereto, the conveyor memberhaving a lower portion above the imperforate second shelf and injuxtaposition with respect thereto, means positioning the conveyormember adjacent the receiver means so that a portion of the conveyormember is positioned within the receiver means to effect return ofexcess mold material toward said hopper, the conveyor member having theupper portion thereof moving in a direction away from the mold materialreceiver means so that material is moved from the hopper by the upperportion of the conveyor member and along the imperforate first shelf,the mold material being moved from the first shelf by the upper portionof the conveyor member and falling through the openings in the upperportion of the conveyor member to the imperforate second shelf, thelower portion of the conveyor member moving toward the mold materialreceiver means so that the mold material which falls upon the secondshelf from the first shelf is moved by the lower portion of the conveyormember upon the second shelf to the flowable mold material receivermeans, with continued movement of the conveyor member there being aquantity of mold material moved to the receiver means in excess of thatrequired for filling the receiver means, there thus being assurance of asufficient quantity of mold material to fill the mold material receivermeans, the portion of the conveyor member within the mold materialreceiver means moving upwardly from the second shelf and then along thefirst shelf and carrying excess mold material in a direction from themold material receiver means toward the hopper when the mold materialreceiver means is filled.